"The Battle of Dorking (1871)" Topic

I never knew of the London Mobilisation Centres, a series of Victorian forts built to repel a late-19th Century invader. Of particular interest to me as some were built in leafy-Surrey, just t'up road.

The three web links should provide sufficient inspiration for a Battle of Dorking type scenario.

For your delight and delectation.

link

link

link

We used this as our basis for the invasion of Britain anno 1757. The French horde was stopped at Canterbury and later escorted back to the landing beaches at Dover.

I did have the pleasure of playing a game with Phil and then graduate student Stephen Badsey pitting the Prussian and Brits of 1870's over English countryside. A wonderful corps level game that Phil unfortunately never released.

That is very interesting the level of readiness taken to the point of building fortifications.

Cheers,

I'm quite surprised by the timing. Why spend the money for a hypothetical invasion at a point in time where the Royal Navy dominated any possible combination of opponents?

The fear of invasion was big in this era. There was a whole branch of fiction around the idea that Britain would be invaded, and both France and Germany were potential opponents. Also, despite what jingoes past (and present) may have believed, Britain's land army was not internationally well regarded- especially next to Prussia/Germany's.

Kipling certainly built an entire career around portraying the contempt that most people had to the "Thin red line of 'ero's" Read his poem 'Tommy'. Explains it very well.

Dear Captain, it is "Just up t' road" the t' replaces the word THE, if your going to take the sisp at least get it right, Long live the South…CH.

Dear Cat Herder,

If YOU ARE going to get it right it should read: "the 't' replaces the definite article. If you 're going to take the…" Etc.

It was all going so well until we started discussing grammar.

Wargames Vault has an interesting little couple of games on this subject: link

Did I split any t'infitives?

Last Stand at Surbiton!!!

No!! How did that happen? What about the defences at Epsom Downs? (Local knowledge is vital)

Royal Marine,

Thanks for the link. It looks interesting and I need to pursue it.

Thanks guys . . . oh, and as far as the grammer I've enrolled for electrocution lessons. Well just the one!

Its not the grammer that erked me ( mine is absolutly terrible ), I just couldn't see the need to take a swipe at us thick Northerners and the stupid way we speak..CH.

Eee bye eck! Wat's it like Narth of Watford pet?

Cold and deprived, the area I live in gets grants like some eastern European countries qualify for.

Yeah I notice as we pass by when we drive up to the Toon to visit the in-laws. Still TMP is free.

I can't remember the name of the documentary form many years ago on I believe PBS or A&E, these forts were featured and explained why the need for them was thought important. Probably something to do with politics. Anybody remember that film? It will come to me eventually.

I just couldn't see the need to take a swipe at us thick Northerners and the stupid way we speak..

Er, not guilty.

As one Yorkshireman to another, you are perhaps a tad sensitive, pet. I speak English as it ought to be spoken even though my spelling might come straight from Noddy Holder's SLADE School of Spelling Excellence.

Capt DEwell – But Noddy is a Brummy! Are you saying you was learned your Englandeese from him whilst in Yorks? And now live in T'South … now wonder there are issues here.

"I wish it could be Christmas every dayeee …"
noddyholder.com

OK, OK, you both have shown me up for the charlatan I am!

Indeed, I am a small alien from planet Oddz, living in a former-UK nuclear bunker in Buckinghamshire, sent to Earth to annoy you all and steal your wargame ideas. Yet, in the time that I have been here even I know that Noddy Holder comes from Huddersfield, and feigns his Brummy accent.

I can save you humans but, in the words of George Michael, 'you gotta have faith' in me . . .

And now live in T'South … now wonder there are issues here

Now wonder? A typo or, Royal Marine, are you a Brummie?

(These last comments on this thread are meant to be humourous and no offence is intended to any native-Englander or anyone else within easy reach of the stifle/ignore button)

Where's that button? ah, is it this one …